Tuesday, November 10, 2009

TWD--Sugar-Topped Molasses Spice Cookies

For Tuesday's With Dorie this week, since we can bake out of order, I chose to make the Sugar-Topped Molasses Spice Cookies that Pamela at Cookies With Boys chose. (Sometimes, people you "meet" that you may never meet are like kindred spirits--not to name any names--Pamela. ;) She rocks! And her boys--doggone CUTE--go see! Well, okay, finish reading my post, first, then click on over to Cookies With Boys!

I always like it when a recipe turns out just like the pictures in Dorie's book, Baking From My Home to Yours.

The only small problem is that I don't really like really flat, crispy cookies. So as they were baking, I decided not to bake them 12-14 minutes and I only baked them between 10-12 minutes. They were perfectly chewy. Freshly cooled out of the oven, Kevin and I both thought they were a BIT too strong on the molasses flavor. But as they "aged", they weren't so bad and seem to have a perfect ginger/spice flavor. But you know me, I can't just leave well enough alone. So I baked half the dough as the recipe is written. Hey, first time ever, I bought and used freshly ground nutmeg. Boy, that sure makes a difference--love the smell of the fresh nutmeg. (I left out the pepper.)

But I just didn't want THAT many flat, strong molasses cookies. So I "played around". With the other half of the chilled dough, I put it back in the mixer and added 1/3 cup pumpkin puree, a couple shakes more of cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of flour. I baked the cookies for 10 minutes. They were nicely spiced, slightly pumpkin-y soft cookies and just a little bit not-as-flat and I was pleased with them.

But if you know me (hey, where have I heard that before?), I just couldn't leave them as is. Don't be disappointed, but, no chocolate. (I know, I know--it would be good!) I had some leftover cream cheese frosting in the fridge. After softening it up a bit, I had to sandwich some in between a couple cookies.

NOW we're talkin'.

Not done yet. I remembered that I had this jar of Smucker's Pumpkin Spice Ice Cream Topping that I hadn't opened yet. I stirred some of that into the cream cheese frosting and made some more sandwiches.

But don't you think ice cream topping needs some ice cream? Wheel's a turnin'. Ice cream sandwiches. Uh huh! Earlier that day, I had whipped up some of David Lebovitz' Philly Style Vanilla Ice Cream, to use up some cream in the fridge.

Good, but eh, needs a little more.

I just can't stop. Kevin ate this one. I kind of "forced" him to. I handed it to him and said, "Eat this."

Then I decided to do the same thing to a couple of the flat Dorie cookies. I scraped the ice cream off of it and stuck it in the freezer, and just realized it's still there!

Fun times! Thanks for the cookie pick, Pamela! You can get the recipe for the cookies on her blog on November 17, I believe. Or, you can run right now to your local bookstore and get the book! What are all the other bakers doing this week? Well, it's all a mystery until you click on over to the TWD site and check it out!

While the cookies were having their photo shoot, guess who wouldn't leave them alone? Well, doggonit, he's darn-tootin' cute, too! I told him to turn his head to the side, so he could show Grandma his new haircut. Here's what I got.

I think Sam ate 2 or 3 cookies just while I was trying to get the pictures done. I had to crop his hands out of a number of cookie photos.

OK, I was waiting for the chocolate. Love the addition of pumpkin to the dough, though. And the cream cheese frosting as a filling sounds great. And of course you can't go wrong with ice cream and topping! Can you believe that we just ate these plain? :)

Ok - there is just TOO much over-achieving going on here! Wow... very impressed at all the variations! Love that you enjoyed them so much to be able to do that - looks like there's others that enjoyed them too (that's what's important)! Beautiful cookies - ALL of them!!!

You are so bad! I love it. :) I am not a huge fan of flat cookies either but these were spectacular! Your pictures are hunger inducing, I love how the tops cracked perfectly so you can see the darker interior!

Boy Howdy, thems some fancy cookie variations, girl! Your brain must love sugar, huh? hehe Great ideas I'll have to keep these in mind. Although I love the sharpness of the ginger, pepper and molasses combo.These were a big hit in my house. Thanks for your kind comments.AmyRuth

That's it, I quit. Every single week you outdo anything I could possibly do or even think of doing! The cookies look wonderful all stacked up, they look wonderful with the pumpkin fluffiness to them, and they are really really wonderful with that frosting in them and then over the absolute top with the ice cream and the drippy topping. You rock. Oh, and btw love the new sidebar with the changing photos...very nice.

You amaze me every week! I'm always wondering how you're going to amp it up and always amazed with your creations. LOVE THEM!! Those cookies do look just like the book - I hope I'm as lucky with them. =) (I love grating fresh nutmeg too!) I'm baking these next week and keeping my fingers crossed!